Athletes getting the H1N1 vaccine before the public.

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killmak Posted: 11-04-2009 6:52 PM

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In Calgary there is a big scandle going on due to the Calgary Flames getting the H1N1 vaccince before everyone else.  People are getting fired over this and the Flames are taking a lot of heat.  I am just wondering what other people think about this situation.  Here is the link http://tsn.ca/nhl/teams/story/?id=297196&hubname=nhl-flames

Personally I think athletes that are travelling constantly from city to city should be considered high risk and vacinated.  They are at a higher risk of coming into contact with H1N1 then normal people and if they get it they themselves can spread it from city to city as they travel.  I say give them a break and direct your anger towards the people making the vaccine, they should ramp up production to stop the shoratge.

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DrJ079 replied on 11-04-2009 7:01 PM

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Just about everyone is being exposed to this thing, traveling a lot isn't one of the criteria for getting the vaccination first.   The people they are intending to get the vaccinations to first are those most at risk of dying, a group the vast majority of professional athletes don't fit into.    

What if just one or two people in a high risk group die because shots were given out to professional athletes who were at very little risk?

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killmak replied on 11-04-2009 7:33 PM

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DrJ079:

What if just one or two people in a high risk group die because shots were given out to professional athletes who were at very little risk?

That is a good point.  However with athletes doing a lot of charity work how often do they come into contact with kids that are high risk.  What happens when they give the kids H1N1 and someone dies? 

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kuliddar replied on 11-04-2009 7:43 PM

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Its the way the whole thing happened. I'm sure that if it it would of been done by actually asking and stating your case, it might of be seen in another way. There is a lot of kids with Cancer at the Bell Center these days....all sponsored by different players of the Habs. With their immune system already shot to hell its logical that some of them get the vaccine.

Anyways, there is no right or wrong here depending on your view of the situation. At this state, it's a society problem....and in all honesty I've seen worst things from regular people here in Quebec who will do anything to get the vaccine, even if it comes to lie and steal other people's dose who really needed it.... 

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killmak replied on 11-04-2009 7:49 PM

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I wonder why people are going so crazy about getting the vaccine.  From what I have heard H1N1 is barely worse than the seasonal flu and most people dont worry about getting that vaccine.

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DrJ079 replied on 11-04-2009 8:33 PM

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killmak:

I wonder why people are going so crazy about getting the vaccine.  From what I have heard H1N1 is barely worse than the seasonal flu and most people dont worry about getting that vaccine.

Both of my kids had it.    Yeah, it was like the flu with a high fever, nothing major.  In fact, my daughter had a far worse flu 2 years ago.    Neither I or my wife got sick.   I agree, it's really no big deal but the media has everybody hyped up into a frenzy over it.

There's risk with the vaccine as well, it's somewhat controversial.    Personally I'd rather take the risk with the illness and my immune system than take the risk with that stuff, but that's me.

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RoboToque replied on 11-04-2009 8:51 PM

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I live in Calgary and have been following this story. Have to admit I'm surprised that such a big deal is being made, because honestly, how many resources were diverted from the public clinics to give the Flames the vaccine? One or two nurses and 30 doses? My point being, it probably didn't prevent anybody else from getting the shot, and its silly to expect athletes to stand in line with everyone else, just because it'd cause even more commotion. And as other commenters said, c'mon, it's just a flu! Can't believe that someone got scapegoated and fired for this...

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Connell replied on 11-04-2009 8:55 PM

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Its not quite the same as the seasonal flu.  It is almost the exact same strain of virus that caused the 1918 "spanish influenza" pandemic which killed roughly 50 million people worldwide (they even share the same strain name H1N1). The concern from scientist is that since human immune systems have weakened over time to that particular strain that it is now a possibility that we will see another pandemic of similiar or greater proportions.

As for the story I dont find it to be too big of a deal. Its not a large amount. Anyway since the virus tends to spread when people are stuck in close quarters for long periods of time and these guys do have to travel together for good amounts of time like mentioned earlier they seem like perfect candidates. 

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DrJ079 replied on 11-04-2009 9:21 PM

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Connell:

Its not quite the same as the seasonal flu.  It is almost the exact same strain of virus that caused the 1918 "spanish influenza" pandemic which killed roughly 50 million people worldwide (they even share the same strain name H1N1). The concern from scientist is that since human immune systems have weakened over time to that particular strain that it is now a possibility that we will see another pandemic of similiar or greater proportions.

As for the story I dont find it to be too big of a deal. Its not a large amount. Anyway since the virus tends to spread when people are stuck in close quarters for long periods of time and these guys do have to travel together for good amounts of time like mentioned earlier they seem like perfect candidates. 

I don't believe the concern is particularly well founded.   What was the mortality rate of the thing at that time?   At 50 million that had to be pretty high.    What's the mortality rate so far of this thing?    It seems to be a tad higher than regular flu (which many people do die from every year, my daughter wasn't all that far 2 years ago), but not all that much higher.

I used it as an excuse to work from home last week.   People are freaked out enough and I can do all of my work from home anyways.    But the doctor didn't even prescribe them anything.    Just like "hey, if it gets kind of bad call me".

Another guy at my office is home right now as well because his entire family has it.    I'd bet the farm no one in his family dies either.

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Connell replied on 11-04-2009 9:52 PM

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DrJ079:

I don't believe the concern is particularly well founded.   What was the mortality rate of the thing at that time?   At 50 million that had to be pretty high.    What's the mortality rate so far of this thing?    It seems to be a tad higher than regular flu (which many people do die from every year, my daughter wasn't all that far 2 years ago), but not all that much higher.

I used it as an excuse to work from home last week.   People are freaked out enough and I can do all of my work from home anyways.    But the doctor didn't even prescribe them anything.    Just like "hey, if it gets kind of bad call me".

Another guy at my office is home right now as well because his entire family has it.    I'd bet the farm no one in his family dies either.

Well the mortality rate was about 2.5% of patients diagnosed died for Spanish Influenza, and the mortality rate for the 2009 H1N1 flu is generally lower (not much higher than seasonal). The concern is that it will begin to act like the Spanish Influenza, since it is a direct descendant in the evolutionary chain, which killed mainly people when they were adults by causing cytokine storm (overreaction fo the immune system).  This is different from pretty much every other flu strand that has been observed which cause deaths in older people and infants.

It is also a pandemic which makes it significantly different than seasonal flu which usually stays localized to one particular area for a particular strain. There are alot of factors in this issue but for the most part I agree with you. I don't think it is a big deal and will pass, but its not going to just last seasonally like more common flu viruses.

FYI you should never be given a prescription for a viral infection like the flu or a cold outside of possibly tamiflu.

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killmak replied on 11-05-2009 12:13 AM

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Connell:

Well the mortality rate was about 2.5% of patients diagnosed died for Spanish Influenza, and the mortality rate for the 2009 H1N1 flu is generally lower (not much higher than seasonal). The concern is that it will begin to act like the Spanish Influenza, since it is a direct descendant in the evolutionary chain, which killed mainly people when they were adults by causing cytokine storm (overreaction fo the immune system).  This is different from pretty much every other flu strand that has been observed which cause deaths in older people and infants.

Just because it is in the same family as the Spanish flu doesnt mean it is going to be even close to as bad.  Sure it is a little worse than the seasonal flu but not enough to worry too much about.  If you really want to worry about something worry about the avian flu, if that one ever spreads like the swine flu has been spreading there will be millions upon millions of deaths, we would have a pandemic worse than the Spanish flu on our hands.

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mafafu replied on 11-05-2009 6:37 AM

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Much ado about nothing is my thought.

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I-Weapon-X replied on 11-05-2009 7:38 AM

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killmak:

the Flames are taking a lot of heat.

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cheeznrice replied on 11-05-2009 7:45 AM

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mafafu:

Much ado about nothing is my thought.

I have to agree with mafafu about this, but the Flames organization could have handled it a bit better.

As of a few days ago the seasonal flu has killed more people (in Canada) this past year than H1N1.  Obviously those statistics might change as we get into flu season again.  90%+ of the H1N1 deaths were in individuals that had underlying health issues.  IMO the media is panicing about nothing and from what I've heard on the news from health professionals they're more than annoyed by this.